Field trip: Local kindergartners tour Breckenridge fire station

Excitement was in the air Wednesday morning, as East Elementary’s kindergarten students took a field trip to the Breckenridge Fire Department, learning safety procedures, as well as seeing how the firefighters live when they’re at the fire station.

During Wednesday’s tour of the fire station, the kids got a close-up look at a firefighter in his full bunker gear. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/ Breckenridge Texan)

Teachers and aides accompanied the students, and several parents, grandparents and younger siblings met the group at the fire station for the tour.

When the kids arrived at the station, they were greeted by firefighters who gave them some safety lessons, including the “Stop, Drop and Roll” procedure for what to do if your clothes are on fire. They also learned about calling 9-1-1, getting out of a burning house and creating a plan with their families to meet in a specific spot.

As part of the presentation, the children watched a firefighter put on his bunker gear, including an oxygen tank and mask, so that they wouldn’t be afraid if they ever have to be rescued from a fire.

Following the safety presentation, the students went to the second floor of the fire station, where they toured the firefighters’ living quarters. They got to listen to the alarm that sounds when the station gets an emergency call, and they got a close-up look at the fire pole the firefighters use to quickly descend to the first floor.

Before they headed back to school, each kindergartner sprayed the fire hose and climbed into one of the fire trucks to honk the horn and sound the siren.

Story by Carla McKeown/Breckenridge Texan

Cutline, top photo: East Elementary’s kindergarten students got to spray the fire hose during their trip to the Breckenridge Fire Department on Wednesday morning.(Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)

The kindergarten students got a chance to safely look at the fire pole that the firefighters use to quickly get from the second floor to the first floor during an emergency call.(Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)

On the final part of their tour of the Breckenridge Fire Department, the kindergartners were allowed to climb inside one of the fire trucks and honk the horn and sound the siren.(Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)